Chinese Medicine

[Guest]

After my sister's recent lumpectomy, her oncologist scheduled her for four months of chemo, every three weeks. Her second chemo treatment is scheduled for Sept. 13th.

After her first chemo session, she suffered terribly from nausea and headache and an underlying nausea that has never completely gone away. She's been on Zofran and other drugs. Her doctor also said that she could not take any supplements of any kind because it could affect her treatment. Is this true?

Thanks for your help.

Jean W.
Davie, Florida

[Guest]

Jean, physicians differ significantly in their opinions about what other modalities may be used during chemotherapy--it also depends on the chemotherapeutic substances used.

I do have some other considerations you could discuss with your sister's physician for the physician's consideration. The first is acupressure or acupuncture--studies have shown that these can be effective for nausea. The second is massage therapy --or foot reflexology. Again, a report from Sloan-Kettering demonstrated that massage therapy does help with some symptoms, sometimes significantly. However, massage should only be performed by someone with experience and who is aware of the contraindications that exist for cancer patients.
[quote]
After my sister's recent lumpectomy, her oncologist scheduled her for four months of chemo, every three weeks. Her second chemo treatment is scheduled for Sept... [/quote]